„Munich alight“: the arts museums Pinakotheken and their treasuries

Munich is very popular not only for its annual Oktoberfest or „Wiesn“, but also for its artistic vein. Munich is called the „city of arts“, and this title is highly justified. In 1885, the arts school „Kunstakademie“ was opened in Munich. In its wake, Schwabing and the adjacent district Maxvorstadt have turned into a quarter full of artists. A lot of famous persons have been known to frequent the many “artists’ pubs”, among them were the artists of the painters association „Blauer Reiter“. Today, some of the characteristic artistic buildings still remind us of days gone by, for instance the house at Ainmillerstraße 22. Until 1999, Leopoldstraße had been known for the small artistic marketplace on the walkways, unfortunately this has been finally dissolved since. Now the Königsplatz in the south of Maxvorstadt with its arts collections and the surrounding museums forms the center of the cultural life of the city. It belongs to the buildings along Brienner Straße, the first of the splendid avenues of Munich, and it was built in the style of European classicism. Ludwig I. had the intention of representing the relationship between Bavaria and Greece. Today it is rather a reminder of Ludwig’s “Greek adventure“.

Königsplatz accommodates the national collection of antiques, the Glyptothek and the Propyläen. Other museums are nearby, for instance the Städtische Galerie in Lehnbachhaus, the national graphics collection and the paleontological museum of Munich. The arts museums Pinakotheken are also in walking distance. Since 2002, there are two of them. The „Alte Pinakothek“was supplemented by the „Pinakothek der Moderne“. In their unique style, they cover different areas and periods of art.

Museum Brandhorst, which was opened in 2009, was integrated into the arts area of Munich right away. It too is located in Maxvorstadt and possesses 700 proud pieces of art. The late spouses Brandhorst had focussed on art works that influenced art decisively after World War II.

In regular intervals, Munich offers „the long night of museums“. This is a joint action of several cultural institutions and museums. They are open until late at night and attract visitors with a flat rate granting access to all participating houses. Use of public transport is already included in the ticket! Kings Hotels are in walking distance from the Museumsviertel – another bonus!